International Sports Diplomacy Framework

» Elevate Ireland’s reputation as a sporting nation through continued investment in sport at all levels, including our national Sport Ireland Campus, by building upon our success in hosting major sporting events and by supporting our athletes to achieve on the international stage.

» Build positive perceptions about and an increased awareness of Ireland, including through public diplomacy and outreach campaigns centred on major sporting events hosted at home and overseas, recognising that major international sporting events offer a powerful means of expressing our identity on the international stage. These campaigns, which will be informed by regional Global Ireland strategies, will utilise digital as well as in-person platforms and be tailored to reflect awareness levels of Ireland and local interest in specific sports.

» Use Ireland’s reputation as a sporting hub and destination, as well as sporting events hosted at home and overseas, to amplify messages about Ireland’s priorities and values.

» Consider how best to support current and former athletes as they engage in international promotional activities, recognising the important role that our international athletes play representing Ireland internationally.

» Support GAA clubs abroad as a touchstone for Irish communities living overseas and as an important entry-point for local communities to engage with and learn about Ireland, recognising these clubs as part of Ireland’s extended network around the world.

» Through collaboration between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the GAA, continue to support the development of Gaelic games internationally including through the Gaelic Games Development Fund, recognising that the promotion of our national games also assists in promoting Irish values and interest in Ireland overseas, while also building mutually beneficial political, economic and cultural ties around the world.

» Foster Irish community networks abroad by facilitating community activities such as team sports, group hikes/runs etc., and support opportunities to gather collectively for big sporting moments.

» Strengthen ties with members of the diaspora who contribute to the sports sector in their host country, be it as athletes, training and support staff, as sports commentators and journalists, or in the broader sports sectors in sports technology, science, research and development. We will use our diplomatic network, connections with key diaspora figures and with the clubs that have a distinctive Irish character for this outreach, recognising that engagement with these individuals can further the goals of this Framework as well as the broader Global Ireland 2040 and Diaspora Strategies.

» Promote an all-island approach to hosting major international sporting events, including supporting the hosting of such international events as Euro 2028, the T20 Cricket World Cup 2030, and the Open Championships in Golf.

Drawing from the Major International Sports Events Policy and Strategy Framework 2024, we will also explore future opportunities to bid for major competitions that can deliver all-island benefit, including co-hosting opportunities. The possibility of hosting the Tour de France Grand Départ on both sides of the border, for example, has previously garnered cross-community interest and support.

» Implement the Programme for Government commitment to expand cross-border sports opportunities, providing an opportunity for increased strategic coherence in sports policy across both jurisdictions. As part of this, Government has committed to providing up to €50m towards the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast.

» Explore the all-island opportunities of hosting of the T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2030 by Ireland and the United Kingdom

» Use sporting events hosted in Ireland as an opportunity to facilitate broader bilateral programmes of engagements, recognising that international sporting events offer natural platforms to facilitate bilateral relations. This was well evidenced by the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics. We will also leverage upcoming sporting events hosted overseas, such as the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, to deepen our bilateral connections at a city, state and country-level.

» Develop a more strategic approach to leveraging major sporting events hosted in Ireland and overseas as opportunities for high level engagement in pursuit of trade and investment objectives.

» Maximise the economic benefits of sport through enhanced coordination and an enhanced Team Ireland approach. We will do this by implementing our Major International Sports Events Policy and Strategy Framework, drawing from the recent experiences at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, the 2023 Men’s Rugby World Cup and the 2023 FIFA Women’s Soccer World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.